Electrical Service Update & Question

[tokyo]

Just to give an update...a long time ago I talked on here about electric to my garage.

Well, I finally got around to it and hired a contractor. He is licensed, insured, etc. and I got a quote from him for some work. My question is this.

Does the price reflect the work? I think it does, so no matter what I am having it done, but thought I would ask you guys as well.

Here is the project (includes all labor and materials).
Install and wire a 40 amp - 10 space sub panel at the main box - 370$
Install a 30 amp 6 space sub panel in detached garage and run new lines through a trench (about 30-40 ft) with new 3/4 inch pvc rigid conduit. - 750$

What do you think? Is the price in line, high, low??

tok

 

[dwilliams35]

That'd be way high around here. Go for a bigger panel: it won't be that much more, and you'll end up needing it. 30A won't run jack if you ever get welders, decent sized Air compressors, etc.: The labor's the same for bigger services, and the gear shouldn't be much more. At the very least, tell him to use 1 1/4 conduit or something like that: at least you have the option to go up to 100A or so in the future without redigging the trench.

 

[tokyo]

dwilliams,

Thanks for the advice. So your suggesting a bigger box in the garage and wider conduit for thicker wire IF i go bigger later?

does the sub panel at the main line work seem large enough?

tok

 

[<>Severed<>]

By main box, in your first post, do you mean your main breaker box for your house or a service entrance. And I would say you want it in the 100 amp range also. If it doesnt change your price much or you can afford it I would run 100 amp service from the begining. but it also depends on how high of a service you have run to your house.

 

[sberry]

Agreed, this contractor isnt doing you any favors here. Isnt giving you any design/experience help to get you the most for the money. Most panels like go in the garage, the 6 space ones are 100A anyway. 30A is a minimum standard,, bare minimum, as easy to get 60 or 100 for near the same price.

 

[sberry]

Agreed, this contractor isn't doing you any favors here. Isn't giving you any design/experience help to get you the most for the money. Most panels like go in the garage, the 6 space ones are 100A anyway. 30A is a minimum standard,, bare minimum, as easy to get 60 or 100 for near the same price.

 

[BillK]

Sounds cheap to me. Also, concerning the other answers, if he is having to wire a subpanel at your original panel it tells me you probably dont have a very large service coming to the house to begin with. If this is true, and you plan on living there for a while, then you might want to upgrade the main panel at the same time, it will probably be less expensive in the long run.

 

[rickairmedic]

I think that price is extremely cheap for my area and in a larger citi like Philly I would think its way to cheap . I own an HVAC company and know several electricians and I dont think any of them would touch that job for that price . I also agree sounds like you need to upgrade the main service t the house so you can run at least 100 amps to the garage . A welder or decent compressor will put a strain on a 30 amp service rel quick.


Rick

 

[KMR Construction]

Thats a great price. Go for a bigger sub pannel. Alot of the times I go to peoples house to look at jobs they tell me what they want, I try to suggest things and it doesn't go over. I just give what they asked for.

 

[dwilliams35]

dwilliams,

Thanks for the advice. So your suggesting a bigger box in the garage and wider conduit for thicker wire IF i go bigger later?

does the sub panel at the main line work seem large enough?

tok

Well, it's been beat up a little since I've been on here, but I'd go for as big as you can get away with everywhere: about the smallest panel that's made is 60A as I remember: you can get 125A panels for under twenty bucks at Home Depot, etc.: If you made the jump to a 200A it may make a dent, but all you're really putting into it to go bigger is conduit, wire and breakers: the conduit isn't much of a jump, and the breakers would only be a minor jump. Wire's going to be significantly more expensive, but if your area is like mine, you picked the right time to do it: copper is close to hitting the floor. If you don't want to get the bigger wire, go ahead and get the bigger gear and bigger conduit, one way or another: then it's just a matter of swapping breakers and pulling new wire in. Above all, just don't shortchange yourself on the amps: This first installation is as cheap as they're going to get, and what you indicated you were shooting for is going to be underpowered the first time you hook any 240v power tool, compressor, welder, etc. up.
As far as the price, I think that's been answered: that's cheap in some places, expensive in others: might get a few other bids to nail it down? Also, depending on local codes, you may be able to do it yourself for a HECK of a lot cheaper than that. some towns around here will do diy-er permits, with the same inspections, etc.

 

[tokyo]

thanks for all the input.

I have a 100 amp box in the house and it is a 20 breaker box. It is full. My plan is to have one 220 line in the garage and 3 15 amp circuits. I don't need much now, just enough to run a compressor OR a 220 welder.

I think I might call him and see what I can do about getting a bigger main box in the house.

tok

 

[dwilliams35]

Well, it certainly wouldn't hurt, but it may not be necessary: put the subpanel at the house like he was planning, and you can run a 100 amp service to the barn if you want to: nobody said you've gotta use it all, and if you're in the garage, you're probably not using anything in the house. And vice versa. You're probably talking some significantly higher cost there: the meter drop will probably need to be changed, etc.: that's going to get your utility involved.

 

[rburke65]

For the cost of 2' pvc conduit, that's what I'd be burying in the ground and then you are covered for what ever you want to pull out to the garage. Cheap insurance in my book.

 

[PAToyota]

Consider that most of what you are paying him for is labor charge - I'd update the whole setup and go at least 200amp service to a new 200amp panel at the house and split off a 100amp panel for the shop. By the time you'd do the little panel and wiring now and then have him back to rip that out and upgrade it later you'll have spent more money than just getting it done right the first time.

 

[tokyo]

the 200 amp upgrade price is about 1800-2500 to upgrade...a bit too high for me now, especially with the holidays coming. I am not planning to run much in the garage at a single time as it is usually just me in there so if my electrical system will allow me to have my lights on a separate circuit plus 1 or 2 circuits for regular use tools (grinder, drill press, cut off wheel, sawzalletc) and one 220 line for a compressor or welder I think I will be fine.
Right now I only have 1 15 amp curcuit running out there and it is a royal pain to do much other than grind with my angle grinder or cut stuff with my sawzall.

I will let you know how it goes.

tok

 

[PAToyota]

Might want to check with him about the possibility of doing the trenching and conduit work yourself along with anything else where you could pull wires or whatever and then have him do the connections.

You're basically paying him electrician's wages to dig a ditch and other grunt work. Rent a trencher for an afternoon, see what else you can do, and you may be able to bring the price for 200amp service down closer to your budget.